Unveiling Little Spice Jar’s Top 12 Most Popular Recipes of 2021: Your Favorite Dishes Revealed

It’s that magical time of year again when we eagerly look back and celebrate the culinary journey we’ve shared! Join us as we count down the top 12 most beloved recipes from Little Spice Jar in 2021. This year’s compilation truly showcases the diverse palates of our wonderful community, ranging from tantalizing appetizers to hearty main courses (yes, many, many satisfying mains!) and, of course, some utterly delightful desserts. It’s clear that you, our readers, embraced a fantastic variety of flavors and cooking styles throughout the year!

I have to confess, compiling this annual list is undoubtedly one of my absolute favorite posts to create! It offers such a wonderful opportunity to reflect, delve into the analytics, and truly understand which dishes resonated most with all of you this past year. It’s incredibly rewarding to see what you enjoyed cooking, sharing, and savoring from the Little Spice Jar kitchen.

Typically, our top recipes lean heavily towards comforting soups, satisfying pastas, and an abundance of main dishes. However, 2021 brought a delightful surprise with a more eclectic mix! This year’s top 12 features not just one fantastic appetizer but also two irresistible desserts, alongside a healthy and delicious array of pastas and, naturally, some incredible main course options that make weeknight dinners and weekend feasts a breeze. The variety truly speaks to the evolving tastes and desires for both quick, easy meals and more indulgent, special occasion dishes.

And so, the day has finally arrived to share the highly anticipated top 12 recipes of 2021! Each recipe on this list represents a moment of joy, a shared meal, or a new culinary adventure for countless home cooks. We’ve seen these dishes garner immense popularity, high ratings, and glowing comments, solidifying their spot as fan favorites. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in and discover which recipes made the cut!

The Countdown: Little Spice Jar’s Most Loved Dishes of 2021

12. Classic Banana Pudding: Kicking off our countdown at number twelve is the timeless and utterly delightful Classic Banana Pudding. This homemade dessert is a quintessential southern classic, known for its layers of creamy vanilla-scented pudding, fresh banana slices, and delicate vanilla wafers. It’s a recipe that evokes comfort and nostalgia, making it absolutely perfect for any gathering – whether it’s a casual potluck, a sunny picnic, a lively barbecue, or a festive holiday celebration. Its ease of preparation combined with its universally loved flavor profile ensures it remains a perennial favorite, bringing smiles to every table.

11. Crispy Rice Spicy Salmon: Taking the eleventh spot, the Crispy Rice Spicy Salmon recipe proves that restaurant-quality appetizers can be easily made at home. This dish exploded in popularity, offering the perfect two-bite appetizer or a light, yet satisfying, main course. It features pan-fried sushi rice cakes, meticulously crafted to achieve that irresistible crispy exterior, topped with perfectly smashed avocado and succulent, spicy salmon. It’s a harmonious blend of textures and flavors – crunchy, creamy, and spicy – making it an incredibly easy, yet utterly delicious, treat that became a fast favorite for its unique appeal and impressive presentation.

10. Weeknight Salmon Sushi Bowls: Landing at number ten, the Weeknight Salmon Sushi Bowls emerged as a go-to for healthy and customizable meals. These bowls are loaded with all your favorite sushi toppings, deconstructed for an easy, no-fuss dinner. The versatility of this recipe is a major draw; you can prepare it with smoked salmon, use up leftover cooked salmon, or quickly broil a fresh fillet. It’s an incredibly adaptable and filling meal that brings the joy of sushi into a convenient bowl format, perfect for busy weeknights when you crave something fresh, flavorful, and wholesome without the elaborate preparation.

9. Creamy Paprika Chicken Pasta: Securing the ninth position is the incredibly comforting and extra delicious Creamy Paprika Chicken Pasta. This dish features beautifully seasoned and perfectly seared chicken breasts, served alongside an effortlessly prepared pasta recipe that relies mostly on pantry staples. The rich, creamy sauce infused with smoky paprika creates an irresistible flavor that’s both comforting and gourmet. It’s a fantastic option for a quick weeknight-friendly meal, and for a complete and balanced dinner, you can easily serve it with a side of steamed vegetables, making it a wholesome choice the whole family will adore.

8. How to Make Perfect Basmati Rice: Climbing to number eight, our guide on How to Make Perfect Basmati Rice proved to be an invaluable resource for many home cooks. Achieving perfectly fluffy, fragrant basmati rice, just like you’d find in your favorite Indian restaurant, can seem daunting, but this method demystifies the process. With clear, simple steps, this recipe ensures that everyone can achieve consistently excellent results at home. It’s a foundational skill that elevates countless meals, making it a truly essential addition to any cook’s repertoire and a clear favorite for those seeking culinary mastery.

7. Simply Cozy Homemade SpaghettiOs: Taking the seventh spot, the Simply Cozy Homemade SpaghettiOs brought a wave of nostalgia and comfort to kitchens everywhere. This recipe offers the ultimate comfort food experience, recreating a childhood favorite with wholesome ingredients. Made with just a handful of simple pantry staples, this delightful dish comes together in less than 30 minutes, making it an ideal option for a speedy lunch or a light dinner. It’s incredibly versatile, serving equally well as a comforting side dish or a satisfying full meal, proving that sometimes the simplest recipes bring the most joy.

6. Italian Orange Cake: At number six, the vibrant and utterly delicious Italian Orange Cake brightened many tables. This dessert celebrates the beauty of seasonal fresh oranges, infusing every bite with bright, zesty citrus flavors. What makes this cake truly special is the ingenious use of whole oranges blended directly into the batter, ensuring maximum flavor and moisture. Topped with beautifully sweet candied oranges, it’s not only a feast for the taste buds but also a visual delight. It’s the perfect, elegant way to celebrate this beautiful citrus fruit, offering a refreshing and sophisticated dessert option.

5. Quick Homestyle Chicken and Gravy: Grabbing the fifth spot, the Quick Homestyle Chicken and Gravy quickly became a go-to for ultimate weeknight comfort food. This classic combination of tender chicken with rich, savory gravy served alongside fluffy mashed potatoes is a heartwarming meal that never disappoints. What makes this recipe particularly popular is its simplicity: it’s made with everyday ingredients easily found in most kitchens and requires minimal prep work. The magic happens in one pan, where you season the chicken and cook both the chicken and the luscious gravy, making cleanup a breeze and dinner a delight.

4. Homemade Crunchwrap Supreme: Soaring into the fourth position, the Homemade Crunchwrap Supreme proved to be a resounding success, often hailed as “better than drive-thru!” This recipe offers a customizable and satisfying take on the popular fast-food item. It’s incredibly versatile, allowing you to use ground beef, turkey, ground chicken, or even meatless crumbles to suit your dietary preferences. Beyond the meat, you can easily swap it for refried beans and stuff it with just about anything you like – from cheese and lettuce to tomatoes and sour cream. Its endless possibilities and superior homemade taste made it an instant hit for family dinners and casual gatherings.

3. Chicken Lazone: Cracking the top three, the Creamy Chicken Lazone captured hearts with its incredible flavor and undeniable convenience. This remarkable dish is a one-skillet wonder, offering a delicious and weeknight-friendly dinner recipe that comes together in just 30 minutes. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, even for the pickiest eaters, thanks to its rich, velvety sauce and tender chicken. Whether you serve it over pasta, fluffy rice, low-carb caulirice, or with fresh bread to soak up every last drop of that golden, delicious sauce, Chicken Lazone provides a quick, flavorful, and satisfying meal that epitomizes smart home cooking.

2. Salisbury Steak Meatballs with Gravy: Narrowly missing the top spot but securing an impressive second place are the Mouthwatering and Cozy Salisbury Steak Meatballs. This recipe offers a delightful and comforting twist on the traditional Salisbury steak, transforming it into tender, flavorful meatballs. The meatballs are simmered in a hearty onion and mushroom gravy, creating a dish that is rich, deeply savory, and utterly satisfying. It’s a perfect meal for a chilly evening, ideally served over creamy mashed potatoes, fragrant fluffy rice, or buttery egg noodles, promising warmth and deliciousness with every forkful. Its home-style charm and incredible flavor made it a standout favorite.

1.Weekend Braised Beef Ragú: And finally, taking the coveted number one spot as the most popular recipe of 2021 is the magnificent Weekend Braised Beef Ragú! This simple yet profoundly flavorful dish is the epitome of comfort and slow-cooked perfection, making it absolutely ideal for a warming Sunday supper. The beauty of this ragú lies in its “set it and forget it” nature: you simply set it up and let it slowly simmer all day until the beef is incredibly tender and fall-apart delicious. The resulting rich, deeply flavored sauce served over pappardelle pasta is seriously the most comforting and satisfying meal imaginable, a true testament to the power of slow cooking and robust flavors.

A Few Personal Favorites from the Little Spice Jar Kitchen

While the top 12 list is dictated by your clicks and reviews, I’d also like to take a second to mention a couple of my personal favorites from this past year! I absolutely adored the white chicken chili for its creamy texture and comforting warmth, and the palak paneer recipe, which brought vibrant flavors and a taste of authentic Indian cuisine to my kitchen. If you’ve made any recipes from the blog this year, whether they made the list or not, I’d truly love to hear about your favorites and what you enjoyed cooking the most!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read the blog, cook along with us, and share your culinary adventures this year. Your engagement, comments, and support mean the world to me and to the Little Spice Jar community. It’s truly an honor to be a part of your kitchen!

Wishing you and your loved ones a happy, healthy, and incredibly delicious New Year! Here’s to a brighter, more flavorful 2022 filled with many more exciting recipes and shared moments around the table!